Vehicle-propeller



(No Model.) 3SheetsSheet 1.

E. G. ADAMS.

VEHICLE PROPELLBR. No. 269,614. Patented Dec. 26, 188 2.

(No Model.)

3Sheets-Sheet 2. E. G. ADAMS.

VEHICLE PROPELLBR.

Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

(No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 3. E. G. ADAMS.

VEHICLE PROPELLER.

. No. 269.614. Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

M Q Z WM izafiztb f i 7 4 (Q/Mil Units STATES EDWIB G. ADAMS, 0F GOHOES, NFAV YORK.

VEHICLE-I-PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,614, dated December 26, 1882.

(X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LEDWIN G. ADAMS, of Cohoes, in the county of Albany, and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Propellers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description there of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the parts of my jointed bar separated from each other. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said bar in the position occupied just before the commencement of the backward thust. Fig. 3 is a like View of the same at the instant said thrust commences. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of said bar near the close of its rearward movement, and Fig. 5 is a like view of the same flexed and about to be moved forward.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

My invention is an improvement upon a vehicle-propeller for which Letters Patent No. 195,553 were issued to me upon the 25th day of September, 1877; and it consists in the construction of the foot or hearing end of the propelling-bar and of the jointed center of said bar, whereby greater efficiency and ease of operation are secured, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawings, A. and A represent two sections of my propelling-bar, which sections are preferably constructed of wood, and have such dimensions as will adapt them to the work to be performed. The upper end of the upper section, A, is provided with a strap, 13, and boxes 0 of usual form, by which it is journaled upon the operating-crank while upon its lower end is secured a metal block, D, which embraces said end and two of the adjacent sides, and is held in place by means of bolts E that pass through said parts.

The lower end of the block D is concave and formed upon a circular line which constitutes about one-third of a circle, and at its rear lower "corner is provided with a rectangular socket,

d, that is adapted to receive and contain one end of a rubber strap, F, said end being secured in said socket by any well-known means.

The upper end of the lower section, A, is provided with a metal block,G,which embraces said part, and is secured thereto in the same manner as in case of the block D. The upper end of said block G is concave and formed upon acircular line, and at some point within said concavity is provided with a square spur, g, that projects upward, as shown.

Between the blocksD and G isa rubber disk, H,.which corresponds in thickness to the width of said parts, and at its periphery corresponds to the curvature of the concave ends of the same. Said disk is held in place with relation to the lower block, G, by means of the spur g, which passes into a corresponding opening, h, in the same, while its lateral position with relation to the upper block, D, is insured by two flanges, d, that projectdownward at the sides of the concavity of the latter, and fit into corresponding recesses, it, that are provided in .the side edges of said disk.

A rubber strap, I, secured at one end upon each side of the upper section, A, and at its opposite lower end upon an axial bolt, K, that passes through the disk H, holds the latter with a yielding pressure upward within the concave lower end of the block D.

The lower end of the rubber strap F is turned outward at a right angle to the body, and is preferably strengthened by means of a metal plate,f. Said strap passes through a metal loop, g, which projects from the rear upper corner of the block G, and has such shape and dimensions as to enable the body of said strap to slide freely through the same.

At the front lower corner of the block D is provided a square shoulder, (1 while within the corresponding portion of the block G is formed a V-shaped socket, which receives a correspondingly-sheped piece of rubber, L.

The flexible connection between the sections A and A is now complete, and operates as follows, viz: When the propeller-lever is nearing the forward limit ofits motion the rubber strap F has been drawn through the loop 9 until its end f comes into contact therewith, as shown in Fig. 2, after which the further movement'of the section A of said propeller-leverin aforward direction will cause said strap to stretch and create a pressure of the blocks D and G upon the rubber disk H. The motion of the section A of said propeller in aforward direction is limited by the impingement of the shoulder (1 upon the rubber buffer L. As the propeller-lever is flexed, the strap F moves through the loop 1' until at the limit of said propeller-lever in such direction, said strap occupies the position shown in Fig. 4. Except after said strap has been drawn taut, as seen in Fi 2, it exerts no strain upon the joint, and the upper block, D, is free to turn upon or over the disk H; but after being thus drawn taut, said strap holds the parts of the flexible joint firmly together and lessens the shock when the sections reach the position shown'in Fig. 3.

It will be seen that the elastic bearing prevents all noise and furnishes an easy, efficient, and durable joint.

The bearing of the lower end of thejointed propeller-lever is formed as follows, vizz. Secured upon the lower end of the lower section, A, is a metal bloclelVI, which has a forward and downward extending-arm, m, that terminates in an eye, at. The eye m fits into a socket, n, that is provided within the upper face of the block I and by means of a bolt, a, thatpasses through said parts. said blocks N and M are pivoted or jointed together.

It will be seen that the lower pivotal end, at, of the lever engages with the foot in ad vance of the center, and that said bearing is also extended in front of the line of said lever. This construction gives to said foot a much firmer hold upon the ground than would otherwise be practicable, and prevents slipping at the commencement and close of its contact.

The lower side of the block N is rectangular in plan view, and is provided with a recess, a", which receives and contains a correspondingly'shaped block of rubber, O, that comes fiush with the upper-edge of said block N. A second block ot rubber, P, which corresponds in horizontal shape to the like feature of said rubber block 0, is placed beneath the latter and both secured in place by means of bolts Q, which pass vertically through said parts and through said metal block N.

The construction described furnishes an elastic foot-bearing for the propeller-lever, which has a firm contact with the surface of the ground, and in consequence of its pivotal connection with said propeller-lever maintains its contactat every point, and is in all respects the mechanical equivalent for the foot of a draft animal.

In order that increased friction of the foot upon the surface of the ground may be had, pointed nuts 1 are placed upon the lower ends of the bolts I, and are contained within recessesp that are formed in the lower face of the rubber block 1?, the lower ends of said nuts being slightly above the'lower face of said block when no unusual downward pressure is exerted upon thepropeller-lever. When sutficient downward pressure is given to the propeller-lever, the rubber block or pad P is compressed, and the pointed nuts q caused to project below its face and to engage with the surface of the ground.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s--- 1. As a means for connecting the propelling lever with its foot, a pivotal bearing secured to the former and adapted to engage with said foot in front of the line of said lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the jointed i'oot described and with the rubber bearing pad, metal points contained within recesses in said pad and adapted to engage with the surface of the ground when said pad is compressed by downward pressure, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

3. The propeller-lever shown, having the ends of its sections A and A combined by means of the rubber disk II, spurf, and straps I and I, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4:. In combination with thesectionsAand A, jointed together, as set forth, the rubber strap F, rigidly secured at one end to said section A, and having its opposite end, which is provided with an enlargemeat, f, contained witlr in and adapted to slide through a loop, q, that is attached to said lower section, A, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

5. As a means for limiting the motion of the joint of the propelling-lever, the shoulder (1, formed upon the joint-block D, and the rubber buffer L, contained within the socket g of the joint-block G, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the joint-block I), provided with the concave lower end and with the side flanges, d, the joint-block (Zr, having the concave upper end and spur g, and the rubber disk H, provided with the recesses h, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of September, 1882.

EDWIN G. ADAMS.

XVitnesses HENRY A. STRONG, FRANK T. HASTINGS. 

